Tanya Ski

Tanya Rodriquez is a woman full of passion. For her foundation, the Frank Ski Kids Foundation, for the arts and entertainment world, for altruistic causesand most of all, for her family. Tanya, wife of radio personality Frank Ski, seems to define work/life balance, knowing that while her philanthropic efforts arean integral part of her life, her family is first and center.

Tanya hails from Baltimore, Maryland, where she attended the University of Maryland and received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Although offered aposition with CNN, where she interned as a college student, she declined and started her career in radio as a DJ for Power 99 in Philadelphia. Next, Tanyawent to WBGR, where she worked as a news reporter and DJ.

It was at WCAO, Heaven 600, a top-rated gospel station in Baltimore that Tanya was able to build on her passion for gospel music. While at the station,she developed a ministry and reached out to her community, serving as a youth counselor and speaker. She used the platform to create unique programssuch as gospel aerobics and gospel hip hop and rap, taking the format to younger audiences and paving the path for gospel’s entrée to mainstreamaudiences. She also had established a rapport with artists such as Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin, who primarily performed contemporary gospel, butentered the mainstream music scene.

When she and Ski moved to Atlanta, Tanya wanted to take advantage of her training and pursue a career in television broadcasting. She was interviewingwith WXIA Channel 11, when she found out she was pregnant. She decided family came before a full-time career and didn’t take the position, but later,drew on her parenting experiences to do a parenting segment for the station with her friend Tiffany Cochran, who was an anchor at the station.

It didn’t take long for Tanya to put her talents to use in other ways. She drew on her humanitarian efforts, including her office position with her sorority,AKA, which focuses on service initiatives, to help children and families in need. Together with her husband, Tanya established the Frank Ski KidsFoundation, which provides financial assistance to low-income youth and youth-serving agencies to expand opportunities for educational, athletic andcultural learning. The foundation has provided extraordinary experiences for children, including excursions to Ecuador to explore The Galapagos Islandsand the Charles Darwin Research Station and NASA’s Space and Rocket Center Space Camp and Space Academy in Alabama. The foundation alsohosts Youth Bowl, Atlanta’s ultimate youth football playoffs and championship games and Kids Week, a week of fun-filled activities for children of all ages.Corporations and local businesses help sponsor events such as a talent competition and Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta tours. To help support thefoundation, Tanya and Frank host an annual wine tasting at their home, an event that draws celebrities and local luminaries together to celebrate theefforts of the foundation and to raise funds.

Because Tanya has a great interest in the arts, she plans to bring a more arts-related focus to her foundation work, including painting and sculptingcontests and educational trips to locations like Rome and Florence. As Tanya notes, this is especially important to students since so many arts programshave been eliminated from school systems. Her goal is to help youth develop a well-rounded footing to help them compete globally.

Tanya also hosts The Local Legends Luncheon, which recognizes the achievements of outstanding high school students. Tanya says she thought of theidea after doing some volunteer work with the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home, a home for abused and neglected children, when she encountered a group ofyoung women who had no direction or knowledge of basic life skills. She decided to find a way to lift up these young women and help provide a foundationfor their success. Students recognized at the luncheon are presented with scholarship funds and have the opportunity to meet with celebrities andprofessional women who provided valuable advice and encouragement.

In her rare downtime, you’ll find Tanya reading, writing or following her interest in design. As a child, she would leave church on Sunday to drive aroundlooking at home designs. “My mother and I would admire the décor and get ideas,” said Tanya. “Since then, I’ve always had a strong interest in design anddecorating.” This is evidenced in Tanya’s home, which has been featured in style and décor publications. Inspired by everything she’s seen and learnedover the years, Tanya decorated the home herself, employing spectacular touches such as a gourmet kitchen, classic furnishings and unique pieces sheand Frank have collected during their world travels. Above all, Tanya is most proud of her role as mom. She reigns supreme over a household of four sons,including a set of twins. She involves herself in every aspect of their lives. “From being a team mom and having jerseys made for the boys to organizingevents, I’m there,” says Tanya.

Finding the balance is a something that seems to come naturally to Tanya, who says organization is key to keeping harmony and structure. “Frank saidit’s almost military the way I do things,” says Tanya, “but when I had three kids in diapers at one time, I knew I needed a system.” It’s an approach that’sserved her well, as she’s raised successful, well-rounded children who aren’t spoiled by the accomplishments of their parents.

“My children are well traveled, since we take them on our trips around the world, but they are grounded as well.” They have been exposed to concept ofgiving back and have helped volunteer locally with organizations such as Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless. It’s no wonder Tanya used to report onparenting. She could write a book on how to have it all—career, philanthropy, a happy marriage and a loving, balanced family.